Weeks leading off, Nakajima at short for opener tomorrow

The first lineup of the spring was posted this morning and this is the group the A’s will send out against the Brewers at Maryvale tomorrow: Weeks 2B, Nakajima SS, Reddick RF, Moss 1B, Smith LF, Young CF, Jaso C, Donaldson 3B, Sizemore DH.

This is the first chance to see Japanese shortstop Hiro Nakajima, his first game in the U.S. as a big-leaguer, and manager Bob Melvin said he’ll be looking for quite a few things, including how much of a base-stealing threat he might be and how he handles the bat with runners on base. They know Nakajima has done all the basics well during drills, but game action is of course a different beast.

Jemile Weeks is going to get every opportunity to try to reclaim his second base job, though he has the disadvantage of having an option left. Melvin said that while generally speaking, spring numbers don’t matter that much, they do when it comes to head-to-head competition like the one that will be waged for second base. Weeks and Scott Sizemore are the leading candidates, but there are numerous other options there, including either of the team’s shortstops, Nakajima and Jed Lowrie, should the need arise.

If Weeks has a terrific spring – and he has a history of outstanding springs, including last year when he hit .339 with three homers in 16 games – he might put himself in a good position, but as Melvin noted, roster flexibility – options – also can play some role when decisions are made.

Sizemore is DHing tomorrow, a sort of ease-his-way-in after missing all of last year with a torn knee ligament, but I’d imagine he’ll be at second base soon, potentially as soon as Sunday. Lowrie, Yoenis Cespedes and Coco Crisp will play on Sunday for sure.